Strap seal and system

Abstract

A plastic seal and system is configured for sealing to first and second confronting courses of plastic strap material. The seal includes a body having first and second opposing walls. The first wall has a sealing element formed therein that is bounded by a first wall opening, and the second wall has a sealing element formed therein that is bounded by a second wall opening. The sealing element is connected to the body by one or more frangible connectors. The body defines a central opening for receiving the first and second confronting courses of strap material generally parallel and adjacent to their respective opposing walls. The first sealing element is sealed to the first course of strap material and the second seal element is sealed to the second course of strap material to form a strap seal. A tool and a method for positioning and tensioning a plastic strap around a load are also disclosed.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . A tool for sealing a plastic strap seal to first and second confronting courses of plastic strap material, the plastic seal having opposing walls spaced apart walls each wall having an opening and having a sealing element formed therein, each strap course lying adjacent one of the sealing elements, the tool comprising: 
 a body;    a holding member for securely holding the plastic seal;    a sealing head configured to engage one of the sealing elements and to move the sealing element relative to its respective adjacent course of strap seal to fuse the sealing element to the strap material.    
   
   
       12 . The tool in accordance with  claim 11  including a rotating drive operably connected to the sealing head to rotate the sealing head and the sealing element to seal the sealing element to its respective course of strap material.  
   
   
       13 . The tool in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the holding member is a jaw.  
   
   
       14 . The tool in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the jaw is a stationary jaw.  
   
   
       15 . The tool in accordance with  claim 13  wherein the jaw is a movable jaw.  
   
   
       16 . The tool in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the jaw includes a pair of jaw elements pivotable toward and away from one another to secure and release the seal.  
   
   
       17 . The tool in accordance with  claim 15  including a trigger to actuate the tool, and including a linkage linked to the trigger to movable the jaw into engagement with the seal.  
   
   
       18 . The tool in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the tool is powered locally.  
   
   
       19 . The tool in accordance with  claim 18  wherein the tool is powered by a battery.  
   
   
       20 . The tool in accordance with  claim 11  including a tensioner for drawing tension in the strap prior to forming a seal between the second course of strap and the seal.  
   
   
       21 - 31 . (canceled)